Weirton Elementary School
February 2022-2023
FEBRUARY FAMILY NEWSLETTER
Important Updates, Reminders, & Messages
PreK Registration 2023-2024:
PreK Registration is open as of 8:00 am on Wednesday, February 1. Refer to flyer below. Paperwork will be mailed home. Paperwork drop-off is tentatively scheduled for Friday, April 14 (more details to come).
Kindergarten Registration 2023-2024:
Kindergarten packets will be sent home to all current PreK students at WES in March. Packet drop-off is tentatively scheduled for Friday, March 24 (more details to come).
February Lunch Menus:
Refer to February lunch/breakfast menu attachments below.
Reading Ally or Accelerator Reader (AR):
If you have any questions regarding Reading Ally or Accelerator Reader, please contact the school. More information below on Reading Ally and Accelerator Reader. Brochures were sent home in report cards.
Read the entire newsletter. Lots of updates and information included as you scroll down the newsletter.
February Dates:
Wednesday, February 1:
- PreK registration link is open for 2023-2024
Thursday, February 2:
- February PTA meeting 6:00pm in the cafeteria
Friday, February 3:
- Wear Yellow to kick-off attendance initiative "Go Bananas for Attendance."
February 6-26:
- PTA Spring Chestnut Hill Candle sale
Tuesday, February 7:
- Bank at School during Breakfast
February 6-17:
- Jump Rope for Heart Fundraiser
Tuesday, February 14th:
- "Valentine's Day" Wear Red or Pink to show the love we have for one another.
Wednesday, February 15:
- "Workout our Problems with Kindness" Wear your workout/ gym clothes.
Thursday, February 16:
- "There are three ways to ultimate success: The first way is to be kind. The second way is to be kind. The third way is to be kind.” ~Mister Rogers: Wear a Sweater or Cardigan to honor a Mister Rogers who promoted Kindness in his life's work.
- 3rd 9 weeks progress reports
Friday, February 17:
- Faculty Senate (2-hour early dismissal)
- "Share the Spirit of Kindness" Wear your WES Spirit Gear or Red and Black.
- Last day to turn in SMART529 Essays
Monday, February 20:
- Out of calendar (no school)
Monday, February 27 - March 3: Read Across America Week
- Spring Book Fair week
February 27-28:
- 3rd grade Wax Museum (more details to come)
Friday, March 4:
- PTA Family Book Fair Night
PreK Registration Link 2023-2024
PreK Fun
February Jump Rope for Heart
The Kids Heart Challenge
Hello students and families!
We are so excited that our school is partnering with the American Heart Association once again through their Kids Heart Challenge program. The focus of this year’s program is to encourage our students to commit to their heart health and take the online health challenge to BE ACTIVE OR BE KIND. It is our goal to have 50% of students take the challenge!
We will be starting this fundraiser February 6 through the 17th. Students will learn about how important it is to take care of their heart. We will learn that one way is jumping rope.
During February 6-17 we will be collecting money for the American Heart Association. Students will receive packets to take home and collect money during February 6-17.
Students can also collect money online. There is a website on the packet that the students will be receiving soon.
Students will be jumping rope in their physical education classes and learning about the importance of keeping their hearts healthy.
This has always been a great fundraiser for our physical education department and our school.
To get a head start, sign up, to take the challenge at www.heart.org/khc or on the “Kids Heart Challenge” App!
Thank you,
WES Physical Education Department
Jessica Naughton
Dylan Cassiadoro
Giovanni Lenhart
WES SCHOOL COUNSELORS
WES School Counselors
Ms. Mary Ann Petrelle: Grades PreK & K
Mrs. Stacy Cullinan: Grades 1 & 2
Mrs. Sarah Aspenleiter: Grades 3 & 4
WES Health Center offers Social Emotional/Behavioral Therapy
http://www.changeinc.org/health/weirton-elementary-health-center/
(304) 797-5299
February News from WES Counselors
Kindness is the simplest way to show others you care. Kindness is a choice that we can make every day in order to show others we care. We at WES show kindness in our classrooms, halls, lunchrooms, buses and throughout our school. Kindness is contagious when you are kind that kindness explodes out of the schools' walls and into the community in which we live. Kindness is free, takes little effort and can have everlasting effects that we may not be able to see.
We will be showing our WES Kindness throughout the Week of February 14- 17th. We will be promoting kindness in our classrooms through our WES Newscasts, videos and activities.
We love a good theme at WES. Here is our Random Acts of Kindness Themes for the Week of February 14-17th (Tuesday- Friday)
- Tuesday, February 14th --> "Valentine's Day" Wear Red or Pink to show the love we have for one another.
- Wednesday, February 15th --> "Workout our Problems with Kindness" Wear your workout/ gym clothes.
- Thursday, February 16th --> "There are three ways to ultimate success: The first way is to be kind. The second way is to be kind. The third way is to be kind.” ~Mister Rogers: Wear a Sweater or Cardigan to honor a Mister Rogers who promoted Kindness in his life's work.
- Friday, February 17th --> "Share the Spirit of Kindness" Wear your WES Spirit Gear or Red and Black.
https://www.randomactsofkindness.org/
Prize Cart visits for meeting hallway and cafeteria school-wide expectations.
PreK February News
Pre-K Registration will open on February 1st. The link will be shared on Class DOJO and The Weirton Elementary School Facebook page.
Mid-year progress reports will be sent home at the beginning of March.
Our Family Engagement Activity for February is Snuggle Up and Read! Please join us for this wonderful family involvement opportunity to encourage a lifelong love of reading!
Kindergarten February News
February is a month filled with a lot of learning fun, excitement and celebrations in kindergarten. We will soon be celebrating our 100th day of school, Valentine’s Day and President’s Day.
We’re so proud of our kindergarteners for reading CVC words and much more! It’s been amazing to see the progression of them mastering handwriting. We are even writing our last names on all our work!
In math we are having fun adding numbers and counting to 100 by 1s, 5s and 10s.
It’s safe to say we are becoming pros at rhyming words and even spelling them thanks to our Haggerty curriculum.
We have explored informational and fictional books about the farm with our Wit and Wisdom reading program. Soon we will appreciate the extraordinary innovations that Ben Franklin contributed to the world and recognize the impact of his brilliance in their lives today. Our Module 3 America, Then and Now will also remind us of how much life is as much about continuity as it is about change.
First Grade February News
February is going to be FUN-tastic in First Grade. The firsties at WES have been quite busy since returning from winter break. In English Language Arts, they have been learning all about animals in their Wit and Wisdom Module 2. Some classes have wrapped up Module 2 and have already ventured into Module 3. Other classes are still diving deep into characteristics about animals and what makes them each unique.
All first-grade classes have been learning about determiners, prepositional phrases, and categorizing animal based on their specific features.
In Fundations, we are learning about blends. We are learning the difference between a blend and a digraph. Did you know a digraph contains two consonants and only makes one sound? A blend contains two or more consonants, but they each make their own sound. We are having so much fun learning all about blends and digraph blends. We also began learning the keywords and sound for the r-controlled vowels. First Grade teachers are giving us a sneak peek into Level 2 of Fundations. We can't wait to learn more about the r-controlled vowels next year. Did you know we have learned approximately 53 trick words so far this year. Aren't we amazing!
The excitement over AR (accelerated reader) has been quite the buzz in the first-grade hallway. The first graders at WES are so ecstatic every Friday when Ms. Paull comes to grab the weekly reading achievers for their prize selection. Keep earning those badges. We are all so proud of you!
In Math, our first graders have become quite the mathematicians. Each class is learning at their own pace but some topics they are currently working on are place value, comparing numbers, and 2-digit subtraction. Many of the students have been logging into reflex math and have been loving it. Reflex Math is an award-winning research-based system that helps students to develop instant, effortless recall of addition and subtraction facts. They are all LOVING it! Keep filling those green lights!!
February will be filled with tons of LOVE for learning. First graders will be celebrating the 101st Day of School, friendships, learning all about president's day, black history month, dental exploration, and much, much more throughout the month of February. Keep watching your child's classroom dojo and the Weirton Elementary Facebook page for weekly pictures about all the FABULOUS things first grade will be doing throughout the month of FEBRUARY.
Second Grade February News
The second-grade students are learning about, and exploring, “The American West”. We have learned about the Native Americans and how they, the Great Plain grasses, and Buffalo worked together and helped each other. Second grade students have also learned about the Pioneers traveling on the Oregon trail out west, for a new life. Students have created 3-D Tipis as well as Covered Wagons during this exploration.
In Fundations we are learning about R-Controlled Vowels: -ar, -or, er, -ir, and -ur.
Math concepts are being taught to help with adding and subtracting to 100!
Another exciting adventure is our Accelerated Reading trail. We are reading to earn badges and to explore the love of books! Many 2nd graders have earned our animal friends as they are traveling from Greenwood Glen to Timber Park, and finally on to Pinnacle Peak!
Many great things are happening in WES 2nd Grade!
Third Grade February News
In 3rd grade Wit and Wisdom we are starting module 2. In this second module, Outer Space, we will study how people have learned about space through history. By reading books and examining art, students explore our fascination with the cosmos, asking, How do people learn about space?
In Fundations, we are starting Unit 8. In Unit 8, we will review the consonant-le syllable. This syllable is considered a “final stable” syllable. It is always the last syllable in a word and it has only three letters: a consonant, an l and an e. The e is the vowel and it is silent. The consonant and the l are sounded out like a blend. Remind students that the consonant-le syllable is always the last syllable in a multisyllabic word.
In 3rd grade math we are learning area and perimeter. We are always constantly working on our multiplication and division facts so we can become fluent mathematicians.
We are continuing to practice for the GSA by taking practice test called IMA's. 3rd grade is the first year we will be taking the GSA so practicing will help to prepare us for the challenge ahead. Keep our learning strong 3rd grade and we will succeed!
Third grade will also have their annual Black History Month Wax Museum on February 27th and 28th (more details to come).
Fourth Grade February News
In Fourth Grade we are working within Module 2 of Wit &Wisdom. We are learning about adapting to change and how our environment can shape a person. We are using "Exploded Moments" to entice our readers while expanding sensory details.
Each classroom is working towards AR goals with individual novel studies and/or independent reading.
Our focus for writing this semester will be narrative writing. In addition to our narrative writing, we would love to have all our students be able to write their first and last names in cursive!
In Math, we are still working with multiplication/division facts and learning how to use those skills to work our way through fractions!
Looking forward to finishing out the year strong with lots and lots of new knowledge!
WES News Crew
W.E.S. 4th Grade News Crew
Our news crew team is responsible for filming the news, helping write the scripts, and making edits when necessary.
Landon Manypenny
Lilly Burge
Laila Bailie
Ave Fair
Kristopher Wasmer
Karter Fowler
A special thank you, to all the 4th grade students producing the WES News each day.
WES PTA News
Thursday, February 2:
- February PTA Meeting 6:00pm cafeteria
February 6-26:
- PTA Spring Chestnut Hill Candle sale
ART CLASS
Mrs. Greco's First Grade Art Classes
Newest artwork hung at the First Choice America Bank downtown.
First Grade Snowmen Art
Music Class
Mrs. Basil's class playing the G clef game about music skills in Ms. Turnai's Music class.
SMART 529 Essay Contest
SMART529 ESSAY CONTEST
On Behalf of the West Virginia State Treasurer’s Office
The sixteenth annual SMART529 “When I Grow Up” essay contest for children from Kindergarten through Grade 5 is now underway.
Students may submit essays electronically or through paper entry forms with permission from a parent or guardian.
SMART529 "When I Grow Up" contest entry forms, were sent home with students in grades K-4 this week.
This is an optional activity for students to complete at home. Parents can electronically submit the essay or send them to school. If you decide to send them to school, essays are due no later than Friday, February 17.
Any child that participates in the Smart529 Essay Contest will receive a small prize and certificate. Essays must be submitted to school no later than Friday, February 17.
If you decide to send the essay electronically, send a copy of the essay to school to receive certificate and prize.
Contest entry form attached. This was sent home to all students in grades K-4.
GOING BANANAS for ATTENDANCE
Ms. Stephanie, Attendance Secretary (304-748-8370)
Attendance Reminders:
Going Bananas for Attendance:
- We will kick-off "Going Bananas for Attendance" on Friday, February 3.
- "Going Bananas for Attendance" is initiative for grade levels to increase the awareness of the importance of attending school. We are not encouraging students to come to school sick. The objective of this initiative is to increase awareness of the importance of school-wide, grade level, and individual student attendance.
- In the main hallway, each grade level has a tree. Next to each tree is a stand displaying the grade level's current attendance percentage for that week. The arrow next to the percentage determines if the grade level made an increase or decrease (red - decrease, green- increase).
- The grade level with the highest percentage for that week receives a banana in their tree.
- The grade level with the most bananas at the end of the nine-weeks receives a treat.
- We will kick-off "Going Bananas for Attendance" on Friday, February 3. We are asking all students and staff to wear yellow on Friday.
- On Friday, February 3, we will be filming our "Go Bananas for Attendance" video to promote the importance of attendance.
- Let's have some FUN as we promote the importance of attending school.
Please remember to call the office or email Ms. Stephanie for any missed days.
304-748-8370
or
There has been a change in the attendance policy regarding Parent Note Days.
The number of days a parent can call or send a note to report their child sick has gone to ten (10) per school year to five (5).
Any absence after the five (5) parent notes/calls will have to be excused with a doctor's note.
4th grade is "Going Bananas for Attendance". 4th grade is leading with 2 bananas in their tree.
February Menus
LEARNING ALLY
Learning Ally
Weirton Elementary School is increasing our reading activity from Jan 9 - Feb 24 and competing to win Learning Ally’s national Great Reading Games to gain recognition and prizes for our school! Reading is power!
I’m so excited to share a resource with you that our school has purchased to support your child at school and at home. I want to ensure that your child is a happy, confident learner in my classroom and has access to all of the material we are reading for class assignments and for enjoyment.
Our school now has a membership to Learning Ally, a national nonprofit that provides access to human-read audiobooks through a reading app. They have novels from our assigned reading lists and those popular novels that other students are reading, as well as textbooks. By reading what other students are reading, we will be able to give your child the confidence they need to be an active learner in our classroom.
When students read with Learning Ally, it takes away the effort of decoding so your child can mentally focus on the meaning of what they are reading, this is often called ear reading, and it’s a powerful way to stay on top of reading assignments and help students enjoy books. Don’t worry, learning to read is still really important and we are working on those skills as well.
One of the best things about Learning Ally is all the books have human voices. It’s like you have an extra voice helping your child with homework, and I have an extra reader to share more books with students in my classroom. Human voice helps to model what reading should sound like; it pronounces words correctly and helps to build your child’s vocabulary, comprehension and fluency in reading.
I’ll be adding books to your child’s Learning Ally bookshelf, and they’ll use the app at school. You can download the free app on your personal computer, phone or tablet and log in with your child’s credentials to add the books they want to read. I hope you take advantage of this wonderful resource we are providing to your child.
Readers are Learners. Readers are Leaders.
Grades K-2 AR Information
AR Information for Grades K-2 (watch the video link below)
https://renaissance.widen.net/s/dtq9lnvlg5/arprimarystudentviewprogress
AR Trail
We can't wait to watch our K-2 grade students earn their AR badges!
Grades 3rd and 4th AR Information
Notes from Nurse DeCaria
Please make sure your contact number is up to date on the emergency card. You will also need to list an emergency. If your child gets sick at school, we will need to be able to get a hold of you and arrange for your child to be picked up.
Mr. Arneault (PreK & K) Mrs. Martich (3rd & 4th) Mrs. Carinci-Bell (1st & 2nd) Ms. Miller (Head Principal)
WES Title Services
Meet our WES Title Teachers:
Mrs. Orwasky
Ms. Paull
Mrs. Donna Carnes
Mrs. Davidson
WES Related Arts
WES HEALTH CENTER
WEIRTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL HEALTH CENTER
Our licensed healthcare staff is on site in a safe, child-friendly environment. We closely work with the school nurse and faculty to provide convenient care to your child. We closely work with the school nurse and faculty to provide convenient care to your child.
We provide the following services:
Well check exams, sick visits, injury treatment, immunizations, allergy shots, ADHD evaluation and treatment, sports physicals, behavioral health, dental care, chronic health care maintenance - like being on site to assist with Diabetes, Seizures, and Asthma. Just think of us as a doctor's office inside the school.
Please contact the WES Health Center at 304-797-5299 if you have any questions or medical needs.
WES SPEECH THERAPISTS
WES Speech Therapists
If you questions regarding speech screenings or speech services, please contact one of our speech therapists.
Mrs. Lockerbie (Kindergarten)
Mrs. Gianvito (First Grade)
Mrs. Hinzman (PreK & 4th)
Mrs. Burdette (2nd & 3rd)
Mrs. Edie (Special Education Classes)
Special Education Staff
Bank at School
Our Partners in Education, First Choice America, will be setting up a program called "Bank at School". Families were able to sign-up at Open House. Students will be able to do banking at school during breakfast once a week on Tuesdays. More details to come.
Bus Safety
Please remind your child about good behaviors on the bus.
- Students are to stay seated the whole time.
- Students are not to walk in the aisles or jump seat to seat.
- Students are to refrain from touching each other.
- Students are not to yell or argue.
- Bottom to bottom, Back-to-Back, Bookbag on lap.
Students are to refrain from creating any type of safety issues for anybody on the bus.
Contact Mrs. Carinci-Bell if you have any bus concerns or questions.
November Lunch and Breakfast Menus 2022
STUDENT PUBLICATION RELEASE
During participation in activities related to the education programs at WES/Hancock County, students and student products may be photographed for the purpose of showcasing student work and participation. They may be published in order to positively recognize students and share learning experiences. These materials may be posted online, television, and print media outlets including names and photographs. Please contact the school IN WRITING within 10 calendar days of receiving this statement if you DO NOT want your child’s picture or name to ever appear online, in the newspaper, or TV.